Heading into the 2006 season, Arizona State and its fans had to figure that losing Derek Hagan, Matt Miller and Moey Mutz could potentially be a blow to the team's receiving corps. But with what appeared to be a fine collection of talented -- if inexperienced -- athletes returning at the position and the history of success in the passing game under Dirk Koetter, the significance of the loss was seriously underappreciated.

A year ago it would have been difficult to believe the team's passing game would be what ultimately would cost Koetter his job, but with the defense substantially improved and the running game as good as it had been in the last decade, that's appears to be what happened.